Dana Air, Air Nigeria Workers Risk Job Loss

No fewer than 1.200 workers will lose their jobs as a result of the continued grounding of Dana Air and Air Nigeria.

Dana Air was grounded when its aircraft, flight 0992 crashed in Lagos on June 3, 2012 killing 153 passengers on board, six crew mebers and some others on ground while Air Nigeria was suspended from flight operation on June 22, 2012 by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for not meeting its contractual agreement in terms of payment of salaries.

Dana Air has 540 workers, including those in out-stations in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Calabar and Uyo,who are now worried about their fate, not knowing whether they would ever be allowed to operate or not.

Similarly, Air Nigeria has about 700 workers, including those in out-stations like pilots, engineers, cabin crew etc.

It also has workers in its destinations in the West and Central African sub-regions as well as its headquarters in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) has written a letter to the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah Ogiemwonyi, requesting that Dana Air should be allowed to resume operation.

AON said the chairman of the airline, its management and staff were worried about the continued suspension without any notice of possible resumption.

It said the staff of Dana Air, the families and other dependents were at the risk of losing their source of livelihood following the grounding of the airline.

“On staff salaries one, for its over 540 staff, the airline currently spends about N90 million per month”, it added.